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Phil Lesh Covers The Velvet Underground

In the 1960s, both the Grateful Dead and The Velvet Underground used the name The Warlocks early on in their careers. Both bands quickly changed their names and went on to influence several generations of young musicians. Though many of the groups the Dead laid the groundwork for have covered the Velvets over the years, the members of the Dead themselves have shied away from playing the New York proto-punk band’s material live.

On Friday, night, Phil Lesh added The Velvet Underground classic “Sweet Jane” to his canon when he performed with his Terrapin Family Band and guitarist Mark Karan at San Rafael, CA’s Terrapin Crossroads. Between takes on “Bright Lights, Big City”
and “Birdsong,” Family Band staple Ross James sang lead on “Sweet Jane.”

In other news, Lesh’s Terrapin Family Band have added a series of late-night shows timed with Furthur’s run at the nearby Sweetwater this week. The band will perform in Terrapin Crossroads’ bar space from January 16-19. Special guests are expected.

In fact they played the “Intro” and “Sweet Jane” medley from Lou Reed’s live Rock and Roll Animal album. This modestly titled “Intro” is truly a fine composition by Steve Hunter, who was in Lou’s band and was lead guitarist for Alice Cooper at his prime. Ross and Mark really worked the interplay of lead guitar lines as they worked through the multiple sections of the tune and then crashed into the riff for “Sweet Jane”. It was a real thrill to witness it.